Chapter 3 3. Fateful collision.

His steps were brisk and steady as he hustled out of the restaurant, if there was anything he needed at the moment, it was to leave the hotel premises, and he needed to leave fast. On getting to the parking space, his eyes scanned the whole area, and he sucked in his teeth sharply as a realization hit him, he hadn't come in his car, heck, he no longer had a car to come in.

Chewing his teeth, he pulled out his phone to order for a ride but, the 'insufficient fund' message stared right back at his face, he clenched his fist tightly out of rage that his nails left half moon imprints in his palm.

"Fuck!" He cussed as he punched a car parked before him, leaving a dent in the car.

A deep sigh filled the air, but, the sigh wasn't from him. He looked around, but the parking space, which was poorly lit, made it difficult for him to see every corner.

The sigh came again, this time, it was less of a sigh.

"Step into the light if you are brave enough, dimwit."

The voice -he confirmed to be feminine - blew a raspberry before exhaling deeply.

"You have anger issues, and you sure have anger management issues too."

The voice echoed throughout the parking space, but he turned to his right as that was where he sensed the voice came from, "oh yeah? And now you're going to tell me I have no right to be angry, right?"

She hiccuped and blew a raspberry again, "no, nope, but that car did nothing to you and I bet the owner would agree with that."

He looked at the dent he left in the car and sighed.

"Why are you angry?" He heard her ask, and he shrugged, although knowing she could not see her.

"I had a really bad day. A shitty day, some would say," he tucked his hands into his trouser pockets, "and you, why are you hiding in the dark? And are you drunk?"

She hiccuped for the nth time, "I don't know where I am so yeah, I guess I am and this is as a result of a bad life. I have a bad life."

He raised a brow, "so, the consequences of your bad choices are catching up with you?" he stressed on the words.

"Hell no," she chuckled, "I have lived a good life, I just happen to have bad luck. I'm jinxed."

"I guess that makes two of us," he muttered. "Hey, where are you supposed to be right now?"

"Probably on my way to Paris or Dubai or Italy or Qatar, I don't know, it was supposed to be a surprise."

His brows knitted from confusion, "okay," he stressed, "and you are not there because?"

"Because I have a bad life," she said in between laughter.

Lightly shaking his head, he turned to the car that lined in the parking lot as he ran his fingers through his hair. So many cars yet, he couldn't leave in any of those.

Barely two months ago, he had three cars at his beck-and-call, two months ago, he had enough money to order a ride if he didn't feel like driving, but now, now...there was nothing.

Gulping, he turned sharply to his right, "hey, is your car among these lined up here? I could drop you at your place if you are not okay to drive." He tapped his feet as he waited for her response. He was desperately in need of a ride back to his place; a ride which he would have gotten if he stayed longer in the restaurant but, he'd rather get tipped to get a taxi than ride with the person he had gone to meet.

"Hey," his voice and the clicking of his heels against the cemented floor echoed as he made his way to her, "did you hear me? Oh fuck me," he cussed and sucked his teeth sharply.

His said companion and the one he had hoped to get a ride with was passed out at the corner with an almost empty bottle of whiskey in her hand. He narrowed his eyes at the tiny and fragile looking figure that laid before him, as he assessed her from head to toes; her eyes and face were puffed with evidences of tears on it, her skin was pale, probably from drinking too much. A pale pink corsage was fitted around her wrist, with daisies in her hair.

"Just what happened to you?" He said to no one in particular. With his hands now on his waist, he sized Victoria again. He had no clue what to do with her, yet he could not leave her there; alone and unprotected. All he wanted was a ride, and now he's left to take care of a grown human. A grown human who is a human and a stranger.

"Daisy," he called as he shook her lightly in an attempt to wake her up, but, she only exhaled deeply and began snoring. "Wake up," he tapped her cheeks and she closely popped a lid, a gasp escaping her lips.

"You are handsome." She whispered.

He forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "I am well aware." These compliments were what he got daily right now, he was in need of a ride and he was not getting it.

"Or should I say hot? Yes, hot defines you better."

"Hey Daisy, look at me," she popped the other lid and looked up at him with a pouted mouth, "what is your name?"

"I am cold." Tears began to cloud her eyes and she sniffled.

"Hey, hey, don't cry. Here, I got you." He looked down at his coat in his hand. The three-piece suit was an expensive set, and he had planned to sell it with the few other ones he had returned with in hopes that he would have enough change to last him for a month or so but now, he was giving up one for a stranger, a drunk stranger who probably had no clue how expensive the suit was. Sighing, he lifted her gently and hung the coat around her shoulders.

"Come join me, Raymond, I'm going your way." The hairs on his back stood at the sound of the voice, the voice which belonged to his companion back at the restaurant. "I know you are there, man, I heard your voice."

"What do you want now, Desmond?" He quipped through gritted teeth.

His companion scoffed lightly, "must I need something before helping my own twin brother?"

"You tell me, you seem to have developed tactics for everything nowadays."

"Join me and I may consider your proposal, or you can suit yourself, moreover, you have been doing it for years." His companion -Desmond- said with finality in his voice before the headlights of one of the many cars in the parking space came on.

Staring down Victoria, who was leaning against his chest, he pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number as he gently laid her back on the ground.

"You're safe, Daisy," he whispered into her ear before quickly turning on his heels and making his way to the car.